AFC Notes: Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Browns

Browns WR Odell Beckham has had a number of highs and a number of lows in his career so far. The veteran receiver revealed that at one of his lowest points, breaking his ankle in October of 2017, he was so discouraged that he contemplated retiring early from the game of football. 

“I said this in college, I said, ‘I fear the day that they make this game a business and not what I love,'” Beckham said in a roundtable interview with a few other NFL players via TMZ. “And when I seen that for the first time … after breaking my ankle, like, I thought about not playing no more … they’ve ruined the game of football for me a little bit.”

Beckham admitted he dealt with depression and mental health issues after becoming one of the league’s biggest stars. But he said he was re-energized by the fan support he received to keep playing. 

“When I be on the sideline, and that little kid is, ‘Do the whip! Dance!'” Beckham said, “like, that sh*t is what fueled me. That’s what fueled me.”

Heading into 2020, Beckham said he’s back to a strong place mentally. 

“I understand the game now,” Beckham said. “That’s why you see the [bleached-blonde haircut] is back. There’s nothing you could tell me.”

• NFL Media’s Marc Sessler picks Browns C J.C. Tretter as his breakout candidate to make their first Pro Bowl in 2020. 
• ESPN’s Jake Trotter lists Browns OT Kendall Lamm as a veteran player in danger of being cut this preseason. 

Ravens

Like the entire NFL world, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson saw QB Patrick Mahomes shatter the bar for athletes in the U.S. when he signed a contract worth up to a half-billion dollars. Jackson will have his chance at the bargaining table next offseason when he’s eligible for an extension for the first time. But Jackson himself says he’s not at Mahomes’ level yet despite winning an MVP last season in his second year like the Chiefs signal caller. 

“I gotta win a Super Bowl. I gotta get where he at,” Jackson said via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “It’s a crazy number. No one has ever dreamed about that. Probably dreamed about it but no one ever expected that. Especially half a billion dollars. That’s different. He deserves it.” 

• In an agent survey by the Athletic’s Ben Standig, the Ravens were mentioned as a team that had a strong offseason this year: “They’re building something great. Adding [DL] Calais Campbell was interesting and they landed [DL] Derek Wolfe on the cheap.”
• NFL Media’s Marc Sessler picks Ravens first-round LB Patrick Queen as his breakout candidate to make their first Pro Bowl in 2020. 
• ESPN’s Jamison Hensley lists Ravens WR De’Anthony Thomas as a veteran player in danger of being cut this preseason. 

Steelers

• ESPN’s Brooke Pryor lists Steelers WR Ryan Switzer as a veteran player in danger of being cut this preseason. 
• The Steelers have promoted Blaine Stewart to assistant WR coach and Denzel Martin to assistant outside linebacker coach. (Alex Kozora) 
• Pittsburgh also promoted Chidi Iwuoma from BLESTO scout to a college scout and Dennis MacInnis from scouting intern to BLESTO scout.